What You'll Learn
- How to maintain active turnout and alignment while walking and transitioning on stage.
- Specific techniques for stabilizing the hip to support the leg in an arabesque position.
- The importance of the standing leg's placement during center plié and demi-plié.
- Drills to increase body awareness and focus for better balance without the barre.
- Functional exercises to strengthen the hip rotators for sustained turnout during leg lifts.
About This Video
Transitioning from the barre to the center is one of the most challenging milestones in a dancer's journey. Without the physical support of the barre, maintaining proper turnout and stability requires a heightened level of body awareness and muscular engagement. In this 18-minute session, Broche Ballet guides you through targeted drills designed to help you 'hold' your turnout more effectively while moving through space. We begin by reviewing the fundamental mechanics of rotation, ensuring that your alignment is secure before progressing to dynamic movement.
The class features a structured series of exercises including pliés, tendus, and dégagés, all performed in the center to challenge your core and hip rotators. A significant portion of the practice is dedicated to the nuances of walking on stage and maintaining a clean, turned-out line during transitions. You will learn how to stabilize the hip to support the leg's position, specifically focusing on the correct placement of the standing leg and the working hip during movements like demi-plié and arabesque.
One of the most valuable aspects of this tutorial is the focus on active rotation. Instead of simply 'placing' the foot, the instructor explains how to convince the hip to hold the entire leg in a specific shape, even as you lift and move. This functional approach to turnout helps prevent the common mistake of 'dropping' the rotation during weight transfers. Whether you are working on your arabesque height or seeking more control in your traveling steps, these drills provide the technical foundation needed for graceful and confident center work. By focusing your attention on the engagement of the rotators, you will develop the strength necessary to maintain your classical lines throughout an entire class.
